Powhatan Historic State Park
| Powhatan Historic State Park | |
| Arkansas state park | |
 Historic Powhatan courthouse
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| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Lawrence County |
| Location | Courthouse coordinates |
| - elevation | 292 ft (89 m) |
| - coordinates | 36°5′56″N 91°7′10″W / 36.09889°N 91.11944°WCoordinates: 36°5′56″N 91°7′10″W / 36.09889°N 91.11944°W |
| Area | 9.1 acres (3.7 ha) |
| Established | March 28, 1970 |
| Management | Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism |
 Location of Powhatan Historic State Park in Arkansas
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| Website: Powhatan Historic State Park | |
Powhatan Historic State Park (formerly Powhatan Courthouse State Park) is a 9.1-acre (3.7 ha) Arkansas state park in Lawrence County, Arkansas in the United States. The park contains the 1888 Powhatan courthouse which served as the home of county government from 1869-1968. Today the structure displays items of cultural and historical significance and hosts the park's Visitor Center. The park includes four additional historical buildings and the Arkansas History Commission's Northeast Arkansas Regional Archives. A tour of the historic structures is available. Powhatan served as an important stop for traffic on the Black River until the installation of the Kansas City-Memphis Railwayline two miles north in 1883 significantly decreased the need for river transportation.
The community was the economic hub of Lawrence County before its first platting in 1849. Situated on the Black River, the community took advantage of river traffic both along the river and as a ferry point for crossing the river. The Military Road passed nearby in the 1830s, and the local economy flourished. The Civil War shut down commerce on the river, especially after the Union acquired Arkansas. Skirmishes throughout the region caused havoc for residents, but a slow recovery began to take place following the war. County government was relocated to Powhatan from Clover Bend, a decision greatly helping Powhatan recover.
Following the natural contours of the land, the Kansas City-Memphis Railway crossed the Black River two moles north of Powhatan through the town of Black Rock,ultimately causing the decline of commercial traffic to Powhatan. The Lawrence County judiciary chose to split in 1887, allowing court to be held in Walnut Ridge and Powhatan. US Route 63 (US 63) was rerouted to bypass Powhatan in the 1950s with the building of the new bridge spanning the Black River, and all county government moved to Walnut Ridge in 1968.
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